No. All you need to be is a reasonably proficient swimmer who is comfortable and relaxed in the water.  The swimming requirement for certification is an easy 200 meter nonstop swim (with no time limit or specific stroke requirement) and 10 minute tread/float.

If you don’t have the above mentioned skills, you can learn swimming or enhance your swimming skills through our SWIM TRAINING program to enroll for this course

The minimum age is 10 years old, Student divers who are younger than 15 years earn the PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification, which they may upgrade to PADI Open Water Diver certification upon reaching 15 years old. Children under the age of 15 require parent or guardian permission to register for the Open Water Diver course.

There is no maximum age for you to become a certified diver as far as your medical conditions are acceptable

Yes, you can scuba dive if you smoke or vape. In fact, I know of many divers that do smoke at least semi-regularly. However, as you would imagine, there are additional risks. Furthermore, if you smoke or vape and want to dive, you should consult a doctor first.

The biggest challenge is the self-study, which can take a couple of days to couple of weeks, depending on how free you can be to complete the diving theory part. . However, the practical part of the course can completed within 3 days.  A confined pool dives which should take just one day (4 hours) if all skills passed, then 2 days (4-5 hours each) 

We will provide you with the all required equipment and basic gear for the course practical such as regulator set, BCD “Jacket” , Air Cylinders, weights, wetsuit, mask, fins, boots and snorkel.

However, many choose to purchase their own personal gear such as wetsuit, mask, fins and boots. Specially they are becoming certified divers and will intend to use these gear regularly.

Our instructor(s) will guide you while choosing your gear from a large variety of brands or options we have in Poseidon Dive Center that suit you.

Yes, you can wear soft contact lenses while diving and as an additional option we have masks that can have prescription lenses.

Not at all, in fact, it’s probably easier than you imagine – especially if you’re already comfortable in the water. PADI’s entry-level diver course is split into knowledge development, confined water (pool) skill training and four Scuba training dives.  The course is “performance-based,” which means that you progress as you learn and demonstrate knowledge and skill.

In the Scuba class, you will learn how to dive safely and correctly. Your diving certification is proof that you have taken and passed the Scuba course. 

Therefore, if you are planning a vacation trip with sea access. it’s a great idea to have a peak at the local dive sites as additional activity in your journey. 

Open Water Diver is 18m/60ft

For Junior Open Water Divers, The maximum depth for Juniors 10-12 years old is 12m/40ft and 13+ years old is 18m/60ft.

Not really.  Statistics show that recreational Scuba diving is about as safe as swimming.  certainly, there are potential hazards – which is why you need training and certification – but like driving a car, as long as you follow the rules and use common sense, it’s pretty safe. To put it in perspective, the drive in your car to go diving is more dangerous than the diving.

Most fish are afraid from divers or will ignore them. It is very exciting to see fish around you. The larger the better. The best place to see fish is near wrecks and reefs. Some fish will let you get close to them but will stay out of your reach, other fish are curious and will follow you around.

Recreational divers breathe air, not pure oxygen. It’s filtered to remove impurities, but otherwise, it is air like you’re breathing now but compressed in a scuba cylinder.

Your ears hurt because water pressure pushes in on your ear drum.  In your Scuba course, our instructor(s) will demonstrate and teach you a simple technique to equalize your ears to the surrounding pressure, much like you do when you land in an airplane, and they won’t hurt at all.

Some vacation resorts offer discover Scuba diving or trial dives but these are not certification programs. If you did not complete the classroom work, exams, practical pool skills sessions, four open water dives and receive your certification card, you are not certified!

No, the Open Water Diver Certificate does not have expiry date nor need to be renewed, however, you will need to keep diving very often to build up experience in diving and not to forget what you have learned during your course.

After getting your certificate, you can always join Poseidon Dive Center dive club and have many privileges by becoming a member such as free dives for more information about our dive club CLICK HERE or simply book and join our usual weekends dives for fun under our supervision and guidance by PDC’s crew,

Or you can continue your Scuba diving education by enrolling directly for Advanced Open Water Course to get more experience, fun and learn new adventure dives and skills such as underwater navigation, wreck diving and many more.

Please feel free to call us or Whatsapp us at (+974) 6608 4040, or email us at info@pdcqatar.com and we will get back to you ASAP.